This movie offers hope! It is based on a true story and features knock out performances by Vanessa Hudgens as Agnes “Apple” Bailey, Ann Dowd as Kathy, the director of the home for pregnant teen girls, Brendan Fraser as Apple’s dad Tom, Rosario Dawson as Apple’s selfish mother June, and James Earl Jones as the kind priest, Frank McCarthy. The cast is so good they had to be mentioned. The fact this movie is based on true events make it even more remarkable.
Apple is living with her mother who calls her names and physically abuses her. She wants her to stay for her check which is paid monthly by the state. Apple leaves home and heads for her father’s place, the father she has never met. She tracks him down but when he and her stepmother learn she is pregnant, they encourage her to have an abortion. Apple goes to the clinic but as she continues to look at the Ultrasound images of her baby, she can’t go through with it and flees. A while later she winds up in the hospital, after praying for God’s help. A kindly priest, Father McCarthy, visits her and she tells him that she ended up there after asking God for help. “Maybe this is where He intended you to be” he tells her. He tells her of a home for pregnant teen girls that will help her. She goes there and it is a life changing event as the Director, Kathy, helps her and refuses to let her mother take her away after the mother shows up and slaps her while she is there.
Apple turns her life around, attends church, and has her baby. She slowly develops a relationship with her father, who tells her that Hope, Apple’s baby, was born a day before his birthday. This movie is inspirational and shows that change is possible in one’s life. It is a gritty and realistic movie but shows that positive things can happen when people endure and trust God. It also demonstrates that life is to be cherished. We are very pleased to award this film our Dove “Faith-Friendly” Seal for ages twelve plus. Watching this movie is a great experience.